John Gibbons wore a black shirt, jeans and a sense of humour when he sat down before the national media.

Facing 34 reporters, nine cameras and a stand that held nine microphones, the Toronto Blue Jays manager fared better Monday in his manager’s session at the 111th winter meetings at the Opryland Hotel than he did in Dallas in 2005, his first meetings.

“I would have taken the job if we hadn’t made the deal with the Miami Marlins, but it certainly makes it a lot more attractive,” Gibbons said with a smile.

Gibbons told reporters he had spoken to most players on the Jays, deciding against rehashing clubhouse issues raised by future Hall of Famer Omar Vizquel in September, preferring to go with a fresh slate.

Brett Lawrie, he of the adventurous base running last season, received a call from Gibbons.

“From what I’ve been told he’s very aggressive and made some mistakes on the bases,” said Gibbons. “He’s a gung-ho kid, eager to play. He’ll run through a wall for you.”

Gibbons said he spoke to Al Le Bouef, Lawrie’s hitting coach at double-A Huntsville for more background info.

LOOKING FOR A NO. 1

Jim Duquette of SirusXM radio reported that the Jays are a serious suitor for R.A. Dickey, the New York Mets Cy Young award winner as we wrote Sunday. Duquette says the Jays would part with J.P. Arencibia plus others. Anthony Gose? Colby Rasmus?

The knuckleballer, who earns $5 million US, is on the final year on his contract.

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield pitched for the Boston Red Sox for 13 years until age 44.

The Jays are one of seven teams interested in Dickey, including the Boston Red Sox.

WBC TIME

Team Canada will have an opportunity to settle an old score March 8 when it opens the 2013 World Baseball Classic against Italy at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Italy eliminated Canada in the 2009 WBC at the Rogers Centre. Canada saved its best — Scott Richmond — for Venezuela, a game that never came.

Canada faces Mexico on March 9 and Team USA the next day. Both games will be at Chase Field, site of Canada’s 8-6 win over Team USA in 2006.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to the second round.

Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C., and the Minnesota Twins and Lawrie of Langley, B.C., are the first two players named to Canada’s provisional roster.

SIGNINGS

The San Francisco Giants, usually not into huge contracts, gave centre-fielder Angel Pagan a four-year $40-million deal ... The Boston Red Sox agreed on a three-year, $39-million deal with free-agent first baseman Mike Napoli, pending a physical. Napoli can also help out Jarrod Saltalamacchia with catching duties ... Free agent first baseman James Loney has agreed to a one-year, $2-million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays pending a physical exam.

THREE HALL PASSES

Historian Peter Morris and former Yankee Bob Watson answered questions when the 16-man pre-integration committee elected three new members to the Hall of Fame.

Jacob Ruppert, who built Yankee Stadium, Hank O’Day, who umpired 10 World Series, and barehanded catcher Deacon White were elected.

“We had some excellent questions from the group. Why did White only play 29 games in 1871?” said Morris, now of East Lansing, Mich. “That was the schedule. People had questions about his lack of durability when in fact it was his strength. He didn’t miss games until he was in his 40s.”

White never won a gold glove since he didn’t use one.

“I felt I might get shot down speaking to the group, it wasn’t the case,” Morris said. “There might be four nicer Hall of Famers than Don Sutton, Bert Blyleven, Phil Niekro and Pat Gillick, but I can’t imagine who they’d be.”

The Jays claimed Eli Whiteside, 33, on waivers from the Yankees for the 40th and final spot on their roster heading into Thursday’s Rule V draft. Whiteside hit .224 with one homer, 20 RBIs and a .600 OPS in 60 games at triple-A Fresno. He hit .091 in 12 games with the San Francisco Giants.

NEAR MISS

Right-hander Joel Carreno was hit near the right eye with a liner off the bat of Erick Almonte playing winter ball. He fractured his right zygomatic arch and displacement the base of the orbital cavity. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Carreno will have surgery and should be ready for spring training.

SEARCHING

The Jays looked at lefty Scott Baker before he signed with Chicago Cubs and checked out lefty Bill Bray in the event Darren Oliver does not pitch this season. Bray, 29, pitched in 14 games with the Cincinnati Reds, with a 5.19 ERA. He struck out seven in 82/3 innings. Bray was 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA in 14 games at triple-A Louisville, striking out 10 in 12 innings. He broke in with the 2006 Washington Nationals and has appeared in 258 games over parts of six seasons, with a 13-12 record and a 3.74 ERA, fanning 188 in 1971/3 innings.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons in spotlight at Winter Meetings

John Gibbons wore a black shirt, jeans and a sense of humour when he sat down before the national media.

Facing 34 reporters, nine cameras and a stand that held nine microphones, Gibbons fared better Monday in his manager’s session at the 111th winter meetings at the Opryland Hotel than he did in Dallas in 2005, his first meetings.

“I would have taken the job if we hadn’t made the deal with the Miami Marlins, but it certainly makes it a lot more attractive,” Gibbons said with a smile.

Gibbons told reporters he had spoken to most players on the Blue Jays, deciding against rehashing clubhouse issues raised by future Hall of Famer Omar Vizquel in September, preferring to go with a fresh slate.

Brett Lawrie, he of the adventurous base running last season, received a call from Gibbons.

“From what I’ve been told he’s very aggressive and made some mistakes on the bases,” said Gibbons. “He’s a gung-ho kid, eager to play. He’ll run through a wall for you.”